Good Tuesday Shows... No, That's Not an Oxymoron

Traditionally, Tuesdays are the worst day of the week for shows. You haven't even made it to "hump day", yet you've made it past both the weekend and Monday. Many clubs do not even book bands on Tuesday, and those that do book bands do not bring out their top talent on Tuesdays. To have one intriguing show on a Tuesday is rarity; two good shows is practically unheard of. Yet tonight finds two shows that are worth the time and money.

Today marks the release of Ryan Thomas Becker's solo CD, Neighborhoof. If you're not familiar with Mr. Becker's work, then you're probably not well acquainted with local music. Between The Slow Burners, Eaton Lake Tonics, and RTB2, Ryan has been responsible for more than his share of great songs. While the opening track of the CD, "Seek Fire, Anime Kids", sounds like it would fit in perfectly on an RTB2 album, much of the rest of the album finds Mr. Becker in a more introspective state of mind. Tracks like "Premaries" and "Where Your Father Didn't Go" have a simple beauty to them that may surprise those only familiar with Mr. Becker's work with RTB2. I'm sure you can find Mr. Becker performing all the aforementioned tracks plus many others when he plays tonight at J&J's Pizza in Denton.

City Tavern finds itself hosting a great show for an unfortunate reason. Recently, local musician Greg Schroeder's musical gear was stolen. It is my understanding that the proceeds of this show will help Mr. Schroeder replace the stolen gear. Greg will be performing at the show, as well as Here In Arms, Madison King, Cousin Wes, and Grant Jones & The Pistol Lassos. Here's hoping that plenty of money is raised to help Greg.

Pretty good shows, especially for a Tuesday night, don't you think?

MySpace Playlist: 11/29/09

1. "Christmas (Doesn't Have to Be So Bad)", THe BAcksliders
   One of my life rules is to never play Christmas songs before Thanksgiving. So even though THe BAcksliders have had this track up for several weeks, I didn't want to post it until Thanksgiving had past. Now that it's over, I'm thrilled to share this song with you.


2. "The Fine Art of Bleeding", The Slack
   The Slack's new album, The Deep End, won't be available for purchase until early next year. Fortunately, Chris Holt and the gang have felt generous enough to share some tracks from the upcoming CD on their MySpace. As usual, Mr. Holt's songs are stellar and his musical skill is otherworldly.


3. "Celtic", Shallow Reign
   If Deep Ellum nostalgia is what you're craving, then The Prophet Bar is the place you should be Saturday. The lineup reads like a who's who of late 80's/early 90's local bands. Shallow Reign are on the lineup, as are Locos Gringos, Decadent Dub Team, Bat Mastersons, Buena Vistas, and too many more to mention.


4. "Every Now and Then", They Were Stars
   I know many people have been quite critical of the reopening of Trees. Admittedly, not all of the music is my personal taste, but the return of this venue is something that Deep Ellum desperately needed. I saw Dovetail there in September, and I must say I think the place looks great and the sound system is good. I may make a return visit this Saturday, as They Were Stars opens up a fabulous lineup including Pale Horse (featuring members of GOBL favorite Greater Good), Air Review, and Radiant.


5. "Awakening", Summer Ames
   Pascale (from Opening Bell Coffee) started chatting yesterday about favorite local acts, and she mentioned Summer Ames as one of her personal favorites. I saw her perform earlier this year, and I must admit that she's got a great voice and some solid tunes. And is it just me, or does this song seem tailor made for an ipod commercial?


6. "Finger Trace", Ryan Thomas Becker
   I've really been digging "Seek Fire, Anime Kids" from Mr. Becker's new solo CD, Neighborhoof. That track, however, almost sounds like what you'd expect from RTB2. I opted for this track, as it showcases a very different musical side of Ryan.


7. "Release the Squid (Box 6)", The Deathray Davies
   I'm surprised I've heard such little fanfare in regards to this band's show at Double-Wide Saturday night. I still suspect that DW will be very packed for the band's show. Few bands are as consistently good live as this band.


8. "Friendly Fire", Jet City Rotation
   I love it when good bands find and befriend me on MySpace. That's how I discovered Jet City Rotation. The band seems to have a definite Strokes influence, as well as a hint of new wave influence. Everything I've heard from this band shows great potential, and I have a suspicion that this band could put on an amazing live set. I'd love to test that hypothesis soon.


9. "Henry the Skunk", The Boom Boom Box
   I have nothing new to say about this song. I've said before that it rocks, and it continues to rock. What more can be said?


10. "Afraid of the Dark", Sorta
    I recently discovered that Sorta had uploaded its self titled CD on MySpace, as well as their previous effort, Sad and Strange But True. This closing track of their farewell eponymous CD ranks as one of my favorite songs ever by the band. This song never fails to yank at my heartstrings, particularly towards the end as the band continues to sing "oh, it's over." I miss this band, and more to the point, Carter, you are still (and always will be) missed.

Black Friday (and Saturday) Shows

Wal-Mart isn't the only place offering up great deals this weekend. Check out all these fabulous shows happening over the next two days. There are plenty of good events this weekend, so browse over the options, and surely you'll find at least one show you'll be compelled to attend.


FRIDAY:
The JC Experience (Smoke)
John Pedigo (The O's, Boys Named Sue, Rose County Fair) told me about this very unique show that he and Chad Stockslager (The King Bucks) are assembling. It's a variety show featuring music and comedy starring both John and Chad, as well as special guests. I've heard rumors that Dave Little and Chris Holt will be among those contributing their talents, but I cannot confirm anyone but John and Chad. I've also heard that the food at Smoke is killer. Save some money so you can dine on the barbecue.
Marcus Striplin/Camille Cortinas/Trey Johnson (Opening Bell Coffee)
I'd pay the suggested $6 cover charge for any single performer on this lineup. To get all playing for $6 is a steal. Here's hoping I can convince Marcus to play my favorite Pleasant Grove song, "Commander Whatever".
The Kul/Dertybird/The Archetypes (City Tavern)
The Kul just might be the best band you've never heard of. Their set at the DOMA showcase was really incredible, and anyone who likes their rock on the funky side needs to see this band. I've also heard good word of mouth on Dertybird.
Slobberbone (Dan's Silverleaf)
If you want to know what it feels like to be a packed sardine, head to Dan's. This is not a good show for the claustrophobic, but Slobberbone will undoubtedly bring the house down (or in this case, the bar down).
Emmeline (Buon Giorno Coffee)
I fell in love with her music the first time I heard her perform at Lakewood Bar & Grill, and anyone near the Grapevine area should go to Buon Giorno tonight.

SATURDAY:
The Drams (Bryan Street Tavern)
Brent Best will be a tired man this weekend: Friday at Dan's with Slobberbone, Saturday at Bryan Street Tavern, and Sunday he plays a solo set at Barley House.
Haight Ashbury Band/The Roomsounds/The Hot Tickets/Men As Trees Walking/The Burroughs (The Prophet Bar)
The Roomsounds' "Young & Reckless" has been in my heavy rotation. The song is two minutes and fourteen seconds of near pop perfection, sounding like an updated version of The Byrds. Also on the bill is The Burroughs, a new band led by Spencer Garland. For those who don't remember, he was the opening act at the GOBL 2 year anniversary show. It's a shame that he hasn't received more local recognition; his lyrical wit is razor sharp and will grab the attention of those who will listen. Here's hoping that he can maintain that level of songwriting with a full band behind him.
RTB2/Bridges & Blinking Lights/The O's (Lola's Sixth Street)
My hats off to Mr. Urquhart for such a good Good Show showcase.

MySpace Playlist: 11/22/09

I've been sick for the past few days, and therefore I didn't want to do a lot of research on songs to place on here, or discuss why I chose the songs. Like most people, when I'm sick, I want to be comforted. People often have their favorite "comfort foods" for when they are sick, but I have compiled a list of what could be called my personal "comfort music." Some tracks are old favorites, while others are new tracks destined to become classics of mine. Beyond that, I have nothing else to say about these songs, which is good since I don't feel like writing much.

1. "Nothing This Beautiful", Pleasant Grove


2. "Gravitate", Chomsky


3. "D Street", Luna Matto


4. "Flat Black", True Widow


5. "Sweet Little Bay", Sorta


6. "Supernatural", Rahim Quazi


7. "Black Market Value", the cut*off


8. "The World Is Full of People Who Want to Hurt You", Salim Nourallah


9. "Chasing Corporate", Air Review


10. "Echo and the Pass", Hendrick

MySpace Playlist: 11/15/09

1. "Just Wanna Try", Luna Matto


2. "Suenos", Chasing the Muse
   First off, let me mention a couple of shows taking place tonight. Luna Matto opens for Kate Havenevik and Levi Waver at Prophet Bar. She will go on around 8:00 or so, and Luna Matto is quickly becoming one of my favorite acts in Dallas now. If you have yet to witness a show, you need to. I've yet to see Chasing the Muse, but like what I've heard of them so far. Thie song "Suenos" reminds me of Five Leaves Left period Nick Drake, and lead vocalist Aleah Dillard has a gorgeously haunting voice. If you feel like going out tonight, either show would be worth going to.


3. "Takes One to Know One", Erik Neff
   I had the privilege of having Mr. Neff perform at my last Club Dada GOBL showcase, and this man knows how to work a guitar. His bluesy numbers, like this track, show him at his best. He'll open Saturday night's show at Trees, with David Cote Band, Vallejo, and Del Castillo performing afterwards.


4. "Manic", Here Holy Spain
   I nominate "Manic" as the best hard rock local track of the year. The opening guitar riff is memorable and sucked me in at first listen. I'm sure the band will play this song Saturday Night at Double-Wide. HHS headlines the show, with The Mag Seven and Cruiserweight opening.


5. "The Sticking Place", Most
   Props to my friend Conner, who made me aware of this band. The intro to this song goes on a tad long for my taste, but once the vocals kick in, the song really takes off. Half trip-hop and half jazz, Olivia de Guzman Emile provides the perfect vocals for her band. If all of their songs prove to be this intriguing and beautiful, then this band might take off.


6. "Red in the Morning", Menkena
   Have I mentioned lately how much I love Menkena? Well, it's worth repeating.


7. "Style of the Trace", [DARYL]
   I've been listening to The Crash That Took Me's new CD a whole lot lately, so I decided I'd go back and give a listen to Dylan Silver's previous band, [DARYL]. The songs are a little heavier than those by TCTTM, but Mr. Silver's experimental nature has always been present. This track comes from their release on Beatville Records, The Technology, and it's one of those rare concept albums that works. It's an album best listened to in its entirity, as the instrumental breaks between the song really add a great musical contrast between the piano interludes and the electric songs.


8. "Robin", Little Black Dress
   There's been a definite mixed reaction to the debut of 91.7 KXT. Whatever else, I dare anyone to come up with a station that plays a better mix of good music than KXT. Plus, I love getting to hear local tracks like this one on the radio. It's also nice to have bands like Little Black Dress playing live in their studios. I give the stations two thumbs up, and I'd give it three thumbs up if only I had a third hand.


9. "Young & Reckless", The Roomsounds
   Between KXT and The Local Edge show, the state of local music on the radio hasn't been this good since, well, I can't remember when. This is one of many great songs I've discovered through Mark's radio show.


10. "Unfavorable Way", Trey Johnson
    It's funny that this track, which initially I did not like, has probably become my favorite off of Mount Pelee. You can catch Mr. Johnson perform tracks from said CD this Friday night at Sons of Hermann Hall. Salim Nourallah and The Dave Little Meltdown will open the show.

Last minute Rhett tickets

Congrats to the winners of this week's ticket giveaway. I know this is last minute, but I have one more pair of tickets to give out. Here's all you have to do: be the first person to send an email (ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com) with "Candyapple Corkscrew Hair" in the subject line and you win. I doubt Mr. Miller will be playing that track from Mythologies tonight; call it a hunch. Oh, and in the email, please include your cell phone number so I I can text you info on the tickets.

Rhett Miller Tickets

I've got two pairs of tickets to give away to see Rhett Miller this Saturday at Granada Theater. Salim Nourallah, The O's, and Shibboleth all open up. I usually have some sort of trivia question that I use to give away the tickets, but I'm in such a good mood that I'll make it easier on you.

Why am I in such a good mood? One definite factor is Dallas' newest radio station, KXT. Being able to hear songs on the radio other than "Sweet Home Alabama" and that blasted Matchbox 20 song is such a relief. So to celebrate yesterday's debut of KXT, all you have to do to win the tickets is be one of the first two people to send me an email with "I heart KXT" as the subject line. In the email, please include your mailing address. Good luck, and remember, if you don't win the tickets, you can still purchase them, and proceeds go to help the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

MySpace Playlist: 11/8/09

1. "Patricia Lynn", The Crash That Took Me
   Last night's TCTTM CD release show bordered on being a true force of nature. My props go out to Sons of Hermann Hall and whoever was doing sound that night, because every instrument could be heard by the audience member crystal clear. More importantly, super enormous props to Dylan Silvers and the rest of the band for putting on one of the most rocking shows I've seen all year; every member of the band is a first rate musician. If you haven't picked up Chlorine Colored Eyes, run, don't walk, to your nearest quality CD store and buy it; this is Mr. Silver's best work to date. I could rave on and on, but I'll shut up for now.


2. "I Can't Make You Happy", Ronnie Fauss
   I'm not sure I've heard a song with a bare bones minimal melody work so effectively. The verses consist of one note repeated over and over, and what should be repetitive and annoying is instead haunting and memorable (in a good way). This overly simple melody also serves another purpose even more important: it draws the attention of the listener to the emotionally frank (and well written) lyrics. Bonus points to Mr. Fauss for referencing my favorite Bob Dylan song.


3. "Saturday", Baboon
   I really wanted to add "Lush Life" to the playlist instead. Oh, the limits of MySpace. This is still a great song, and if your computer speakers aren't cranked up to full blast, then it's too quiet.


4. "Come Hell", Matthew Bridgman
   The first time I saw Mr. Bridgman perform, my car has just broken down over by Bill's Records, and my mind was only half on the performance. I saw him play this Thursday at The Pearl Cup, and was amazed by how good his performance was. The songs on his MySpace, like this one, only give the slightest indication of the level of talent he possesses.


5. "Echo and the Pass", Hendrick
   Speaking of Mr. Bridgman, he was once a member of this band. He talked about how he thinks lead singer Josh Hendrick is a fabulous songwriter. All of the songs off of Exhale are indeed great songs, expect for this track, which there are no words in the English language to appropriately describe how amazing and beautiful this song is. Please, please, PLEASE listen to this song. I can't imagine anyone being able to listen to this song and not just falling in love with it.


6. "Have You Ever Been Down?", THe BAcksliders
   Friday the 13th is your lucky day. With THe BAcksliders and Spector 45 performing at Double-Wide, how can it not be a good day?


7. "Change Gon' Come", Dem Southernfolkz
   Of course, for those who feel that Friday the 13th is bad luck, Friday's show at Trees could be used as evidence. No, I don't say that because the show is a bad show, quite to the contrary. Dem Southernfolkz will celebrate their EP release (which you can download for free here), and Dove Hunter, Mo Brown, and They Were Stars will round out this great lineup. Why is this bad luck? You can't be at Double-Wide and Trees at the same time.


8. "I'm on Fire", The Farstar
   The band's first full length CD, produced by Salim Nourallah, will be released next year. In the meantime, enjoy this catchy tune from their recently released Strange Kids EP.


9. "Maureen's House", The Marfalites
   Another band working with Mr. Nourallah is The Marfalites. Catch them Saturday night at City Tavern as they open for Grant Jones and the Pistol Grip Lassos.


10. "Meteor Shower", Rhett Miller
    I normally don't add Rhett Miller's solo material to playlists since he's been based out of LA for almost a decade now. Still, the man was born in Dallas, and I'm really looking forward to Saturday's Granada Theater show, which will be a benefit for Cystic Fibrosis. Salim Nourallah, The O's, and Shibboleth will also perform. Get your tickets now, because you don't want to miss out on this one. Short on money and can't afford tickets? Keep your eye on the blog this week; I just might be able to help you out...

Weekend Shows

There are definitely some good options this weekend. Here's a little look:


FRIDAY:
Destroyer/Sarah Jaffe/RTB2 (Granada Theater)
No, I'm not branching out into discussing national bands, and I'm not going to say anything about Destroyer. Instead, I'd rather talk about how much ass both Ms. Jaffe and RTB2 kick. Sarah's voice has a quality to it that can send goosebumps down anyone's spine. I'm convinced she could sing the phone directory and it'd send a chill up my spine. RTB2's speciality isn't sending chills up a person's spine; the band specializes in a very raw and primal sound. Front man Ryan Thomas Becker manages to seamlessly incorporate elements of blues, soul, and garage rock in his songs. He's a rare performer who has a distinctive style, even though his songs do not sound like carbon copies of one another. Even if Destroyer wasn't on this bill, it would be a must see show.
The O's/Menkena (Allgood Cafe)
The O's have definitely become local music icons in the past year, and deservedly so. This is a hard working band that puts on one seriously entertaining show, filled with plenty of humorous banter between sets. More importantly, this is a duo of two highly talented musicias that know how to write good music. Menkena has not reached that same level of media attention, and that's a problem. I have not encountered a band with a fresher, more original sound all year than Menkena. The band will be playing songs tonight from their upcoming full length CD. Start saving your pennies, because you want this CD in your collection.

SATURDAY:
The Crash That Took Me/True Widow/Stereo Is A Lie/Gaffney (Sons of Hermann Hall)
This is the CD release party for Chlorine Colored Eyes, and the $10 cover charge includes your own copy of the CD. TCTTM's new CD has spent plenty of my time in the CD player. This effort does find the band getting even more experimental and psychedelic with its sound than on the previous CD. Yet at the same time, the sound is unmistakably TCTTM. Some of this is because of lead vocalist Dylan Silver's unmistakable voice, but I'm going out on a limb and saying that drummer Eddie Thomas' work is truly what makes the sound so distinct. This band is allowing Mr. Thomas to show off his full musical potential, something that was only hinted at during his time with Black Tie Dynasty. Oh, and True Widow is also on the bill, and their set will amaze you.
Dove Hunter/The O's/The Orbans/the cut*off (The Moon Bar)
What, is Dallas not good enough to get a lineup this killer? Any one of the bands alone would be worth the cover. Together, this surely has to be the "most bang for the buck" show.
The Felons/Tribella/Fingerless Ghost (Jack's Backyard)
The Felons are always an entertaining back to watch. Their bassist, Adam Carter, is also in the band Spector 45, and is known for doing crazy stuff onstage, sometimes resulting in bodily injury to himself (anyone remember the Spector 45 set at the DOMA showcase?). Fortunately, Felons lead singer Dave Hickmott seems to keep Mr. Carter well under control during their shows.
The Monco Poncho/The Jungle Rockers (Double-Wide)
Few local bands have a fan base as enthusiastic as that of The Monco Poncho. It would be tempting to call the band gimmicky, with their western costumes and the fans shooting cap guns between the sets. The problem, however, is that does not give the band the credit it deserves for its well written songs. In fact, if you peel away the twang from their songs, what you have are straight ahead perfect pop songs. Still, the outfits and cap guns are a lot of fun.

I'm sure I've missed some good shows. If so, post them in the comments section.

KDGE's Local Show Hits the Mark

When I first heard that KDGE was doing a new radio show, The Local Edge, I must confess my expectations were low. Don't get me wrong; it's not that I have anything against listening to local bands who want to be the next Creed or Staind. It's just that, uh, well... okay, so I do have a problem with bands trying to be the next Creed or Staind. I don't like either of those bands, so I definitely do not want to listen to local wannabes. In the past, the local shows tended to focus more on heavy alternative bands that were not to my liking.

When the current host, Mark, took over the show, I expected more of the same. I started noticing that bands I liked were mentioning that they were receiving airplay on the show. I wrote this off, expecting that he slipped in one or two quality songs into a show filled with mediocre bands. But week after week, bands I liked kept mentioning that their songs were being played on The Local Show: RTB2, Hendrick, Little Black Dress, and so forth. Curiosity set in one night, and I logged on to the EDGE's home page to do some research on the show. It turns out that Mark wasn't just selecting a few stray great songs; he was consistently building entire shows around excellent local music.

The list of artists and songs played on his show read like a roll call of GOBL favorites: Dove Hunter, Salim Nourallah, Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights, Doug Burr, Trey Johnson, THe BAcksliders, and so many more. Yes, the show definitely spotlights many of the heavy hitters in the metroplex area. Mark, however, does not limit himself to just the known names, but also provides an opportunity for smaller, less known local acts to receive airplay. Western Giants, The Roomsounds, and Grassfight are just a few bands that may not be known to the average local music fan, but that may change if Mark has his way.

Mark is not only offering bands exposure through his radio show, but also through a series of Local Edge concerts at Trees. The shows, now being held every Thursday at Trees, offer music fans the opportunity to see local acts for absolutely no cover charge. Also, all the bands playing the series will be competing for the opportunity to perform onstage at next year's Edgefest.

Yes, typically corporate owned stations could care less about local acts and quality music. That's what makes The Local Edge so refreshing; playlists this good are usually only found on podcasts and college radio stations. The fact that KDGE is willing to take a chance on such a radio show is remarkable. Mark may not be George Gimarc, but I would dare say that he's the best thing to happen to the station since Mr. Gimarc. Mark at the least has definitely done more to promote local music on the station that anyone else has since Gimarc put out the Tales from the Edge CD compilations.

That's why you, Ghost of Blind Lemon reader, need to be listening to this show every Sunday night at 11 pm. This is the kind of radio show that Dallas is in desperate need of. Between The Local Edge radio show and the shows hosted by Mark at Trees, this is opportunity for bands to branch out and reach a wider audience. I recently the state of local music on the blog, and all that has been wrong. I believe that this radio show and its host could play a major part could play a vital part in breathing much needed life into the Dallas Music Movement.

MySpace Playlist: 11/1/09

A couple of thank you's before I start the playlist. First of all, I thank all of you who came out Friday night to see Iris Leu and Luna Matto. Morning Elephant was originally on the bill, but could not perform that night and the folks at LBG replaced them with Avoiding Disaster. If you haven't seen either Iris or Luna as of yet, you are so missing out. Both of them rocked the LBG in a major way.

Also, I thank everyone who has contributed to the discussion about the Dallas music movement. It always does my heart good to know that people still care about local music. Keep the discussion going, and do whatever you can to support the movement. Attend shows. Expose your friends to local music. Attend shows. Call up radio stations and encourage them to play local music. Oh, did I mention that you should attend shows?

Okay, time for me to step down from my soapbox and give you some music to listen to.

1. "Red in the Morning", Menkena
   This song distills all the best qualities of Menkena (intelligent lyrics, dreamy melody) into five minutes of pure sonic bliss. This may be the band's finest work to date. The level of anticipation I have for their upcoming full length CD is a level usually reserved for local heavy hitters (Old 97's, Salim Nourallah, etc.) and if there is any justice, Menkena will reach that level of respect in Dallas and beyond.


2. "Young & Reckless", The Roomsounds
   I discovered this track last week on The Local Edge show and have listened to it repeatedly. Jangly guitars? Check. Catchy melody that sticks in your head? Check. Band with major potential? Check.


3. "Were Her", The Orbans
   Speaking of The Local Edge, The Orbans will be joining Chatterton and Shock of Pleasure at Trees Wednesday night as these three bands perform for the opportunity to play at EDGEfest. By the way, wouldn't Roomsounds be the perfect opening band for The Orbans? Those two tracks transitioned seamlessly.


4. "Luggage for Light Years", the cut*off
   If you can't catch The Orbans on Wednesday night, then catch them Saturday night at The Moon, along with Dove Hunter and this band. Fort Worth, I'm jealous of you right now.


5. "In Case You Might Forget", The Heelers
   Haven't listened to this track in forever, and decided it had been too long since I shared this song with you, my readers.


6. "Have You Ever Been Down?", THe BAcksliders
   I wanted "Keep A Knockin'" on last week's covers playlist, but alas, the band has removed that track from their MySpace. They'll be playing Double-Wide on Friday th e13th. I usually don't mention shows on playlists that are not for the current week, but I'm just that excited about seeing them.


7. "Minor It Down", True Widow
   They'll be playing at Sons of Hermann Hall Saturday night, opening for The Crash That Took Me's CD release party. I'd post a track from TCTTM's CD, except the band still hasn't posted any tracks from their upcoming CD on MySpace. What's the hold up, Dylan?


8. "Wire to the Walls", RTB2
   When Granada hosts the Destroyer show Friday night, two of Denton's finest will open the show. Both Sarah Jaffe and RTB2 will perform, and although their styles could not be more different, the one trait shared in common is first rate musicianship and quality songs. And really, what more is needed?


9. "We Gathered in Spring", Midlake
   As I eagerly anticipate the band's next CD, The Courage of Others, I've found myself listening to this track more than ever.


10. "Little Polyanna", Kristy Kruger
    This Monday is Dia de los Muertos, translated in English as "Day of the Dead." It is also the day that Lt. Col. Eric Kruger, brother to Kristy, died in the Iraq War. Every year, Kristy performs a show in honor of her brother. She will perform at Opening Bell Coffee, along with Robert Gomez and The Beaten Sea. Part of the proceeds will go to Fisherhouse, a group that helps members of the military, as well as their families. This will not only be an evening of great music, but an opportunity to pay respects to a true hero and help others who are fighting for our country.